Track and Field X-Country
Meet The Team
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Sherman Armstrong
Head Coach
Hurdles and High Jump
Sherman Armstrong is the Owner and Head Performance Director of VAST Sports Performance where he helps athletes at all levels elevate their game. Having trained hundreds of current professional athletes. Armstrong is considered among some of the best Performance Specialist in his field. From 2012-2014 he served as the Head Speed and Associate Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of Georgia Football Program. Armstrong holds a Master's degree in Science of Human Movement and a C.S.C.S certification.
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Adia Armstrong
Head Coach
Sprints
Adia is the manager of VAST Sports Performance and Summer Camp. She attended UCLA from 2000-2005 where she earned a Full Scholarship to run Track. During her career at UCLA she became an 5x All-American, 3x Pac 10 Champion, and ran for Trinidad and Tobago. From 2012-2015 Adia served as an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at the University of Georgia for the Track & and Field and Cross Country Program. Adia holds a Master's degree in Science of Human Movement and a C.S.C.S. certification.
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Steven Gamble
Head X- Country Coach /Recruiter
Middle and Long Distance
Coach Gamble was born and raised in Martinsville, VA and joined the US Army at 17 as a combat infantryman and also served as a Military Police Officer for 10 years. He has participated in track and field since he was 12 years old. He attended Virginia State University on a track scholarship.
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Lakeisha Gamble
Head Throws Coach/ Team Coordinator
Discus, Javelin, Shot Put
My name is Lakeisha Gamble. I was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, FL. I’ve worked for the United States Air Force for 19 years. I am a mother of 4 and I have always loved track and field. I enjoy working with children and helping them to achieve their goals. USATF Coaching Level I Certified. Distance and Throws coach.
Matthew Bolden
Head Developmental Coach
Coach Bolden was born and raised in Washington, D.C., where he ran track throughout middle and high school, specializing in the 200 and 400 meters. He attended Florida A&M University and ran track there for three years. After that, he entered the US Air Force, becoming a certified personal trainer and a strength and conditioning coach. He has coached and been involved with track and field for over five years.
Kelly Nowell-Joyner
Jump Coach
Long Jump
I go by “Kell”, I am a daughter, wife, mother of 2, and sister to a few! Not born, but raised in Tampa, FL., where I began running track around 10 years old, with my favorites being, the 200m and long jump. I’m proudly a (disabled) combat veteran, serving as an Army communications specialist for 6 years until injury during deployment. I am currently a paraprofessional, as well as studying to certify as a FL Paralegal at USF.
Rachel Durham
Assistant Coach
High Jump
Rachel was a high jumper for university at Albany, in New York. She started coaching at Calvary Christian High School, in Clearwater, in 2017. Rachel coached both high jump and cross country. In 2019, she wanted to further her coaching education and became a level 1 certified USATF coach, along with a Level 2 certified USATF Jumps coach. Rachel love being able to teach someone who has never high jumped before how to do it. Rachel also love helping veteran athletes get to new levels with their jumping.
Kara Burke
Assistant Coach
Discus, Javelin, Shot Put
My name is Kara Burke. I relocated to Tampa in 2003 to attend and play basketball for USF. I am also a Registered Nurse. I have always had a passion for track & field and most recently have been improving my knowledge in the subject of throws. I enjoy working with student athletes and assisting in creating an environment for them to learn and grow.
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Ishan Garret
Assistant Coach
Sprints
Ishan Garrett ran his way to a decorated career at Tiffin University, where Ishan was a five-time NCAA Qualifier in various events such as the 400m, 200m, 4x100m relay and the 4x400m relay, earning his first All-American honors in the 4x400m relay. Garrett was also a GLIAC champion in the 200m dash and 2nd place in the 400m dash where he broke the school record at the time. Ishan earned his bachelors degree in Visual Communications and a minor in Theater in 2015.
Charlene Cleary
Executive Director of
Non-Profit
Fundraiser and Financial Support
Cleary is the Founding Chairperson of the Financial Assistance Program and Fundraising for VASTTFCC. This program serves to aid Student-Athletes with financial assistance so that she/he has the opportunity to excel in the sport of Track & Field while giving exposure to young, untapped talent in the Tampa Bay Area. Charlene holds BA in Speech-Language Hearing Science from University of South Florida and University of Florida. Charlene also holds Juris Doctor, from Nova Southeastern Law School in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
Jonesha Pierrelus
Team Mom
Jonesha Pierrelus prefers to go by "Jo" has been with the team for 6 years. Jo has a degree in Office Management/Administration and has been doing Administration duties for VAST Track club for 5 years. Jo also serves the secretary on the Board.